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7.25.2010

Where the streets have no name

Trying to direct a taxi driver when you share no language can be challenging. When neither of you can anme a single street in the city by name it gets interesting. The streets of Buja have names. There is occasionally a sign here or there, but no one navigates by street names. They navigate by lanmarks and if you don't know those either, you have to get creative. I know the names of the major areas of the city - our house is in Kibenga - The church is in Kamenge. I have French words for left and right, and a Kiswahili word for "keep on going." I am looking for a Kirundu word for "Stop" We get there.